Tensions between China and US President-Elect Donald Trump escalated
today as the Asian superpower threatened to arm America’s enemies.

China has stoked tensions with America in a row over Taiwan.

They also blasted the shock election winner as a political novice, claiming even a child possessed more diplomatic nous.

The
ferocious outburst comes amid fears Mr Trump will ignore the “one China
policy”, a delicate balance of power and recognition of Taiwan.

The
largely self-governing state is seen as illegitimate by the Chinese
government. While the US enjoys unofficial relations with Taiwan, China
is concerned at the effect on the region’s independence movement should
Mr Trump attempt to further develop relations.

An unsigned opinion piece in the Chinese newspaper Global Times said today the one China policy was “non-negotiable”.

“If he openly abandons the one-China policy, there will be a real storm.

Tensions between Taiwan and China are often volatile

"As
a businessman, he thinks it’s quite normal to do business, but he
hasn’t realised that the Taiwan question is not a business to China. The
Taiwan question is not negotiable."
It said: “The one-China policy cannot be traded. [Mr Trump is] as ignorant of diplomacy as a child.

“At that point, what need does
mainland China have for prioritising peaceful unification with Taiwan
over retaking the island by military force?”

They then worryingly
asked, if Mr Trump recognised Taiwan, what was to stop China selling
weapons and military equipment to “forces hostile to the US”.
The piece said: “Why couldn’t we publicly support them, or secretly sell arms to them?”

In
a final dig, the piece expressed hope the controversy would soon blow
over due to the "fickle" nature of the incoming president.

It concluded: "He’s very fickle as well, he may eat his words sometime soon.”Mr Trump said yesterday he did not see why he must be “bound by a one
China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other
things, including trade.”

China's Foreign Ministry said
cooperation was "out of the question" if Washington could not recognise
Beijing's core interest on Taiwan, indicating it would reject any effort
by Trump to use the issue as a bargaining chip in a long list of
commercial and security problems facing the two countries.

"Upholding the 'one China'
principle is the political basis for developing China-U.S. ties. If this
basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy development of
China-U.S. relations and bilateral cooperation in important areas is out
of the question.”

China are allies with North Korea, ruled by
sabre-shaking dictator Kim Jong-un who regularly threatens to reduce the
US to rubble.